The National Police Service (NPS) has announced the postponement of its mass recruitment exercise after the Employment and Labour Relations Court issued interim orders halting the process.
In a statement released on Thursday, the NPS confirmed that the exercise, which was scheduled to begin on 3rd October 2025, has been put on hold following a petition filed in court.
“In accordance with the Order of the Employment and Labour Relations Court, issued on 2nd October 2025 in Petition No. E196 of 2025 (Harun Mwau v. Inspector General of Police, the National Police Service Commission & 2 Others), the police recruitment exercise scheduled to commence on 3rd October 2025 has been postponed until further notice,” the statement read.
Lady Justice Hellen Wasilwa issued the interim orders after a petition was lodged challenging the legality and transparency of the entire recruitment process. The ruling directed the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) and the Inspector General of Police to file their responses within seven days. The petitioner will also have seven days to respond with further affidavits and submissions.
The recruitment exercise was expected to enlist 10,000 new police officers across all counties between October 3 and October 9. A day before the suspension, the NPS and NPSC had held a joint briefing at the National Police College Embakasi ‘A’ Campus, where Inspector General Japhet Koome Kanja reaffirmed his commitment to a credible and transparent recruitment process.
Despite the setback, the NPS assured the public that efforts are underway to resolve the matter in court.
“The National Police Service, in conjunction with the National Police Service Commission, is actively pursuing appropriate legal remedies to ensure the recruitment exercise can resume at the earliest opportunity,” the statement added.
The postponement now leaves thousands of applicants in uncertainty as the legal battle unfolds.
